Flushing-tank for water-closets.



PATENTED NOV. 1?, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1v E. G. WATROUS.. v V FLUSHING TANK FOR'WATER GLOSETS.

APPLICATION FILED NQV. 1Q, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

THE mums ravens co. wowouvnu. wAsHmcTom-u PATENT-mum. 17, 1903'.

No; 744,139.. v v E. G. WATROUS. V

PLUSH-ING TANK FOR WATER GLOSETS.

AYPLIOATIOK iILED NOV. 19, 1901.

Q SHEETS-SHEET 2 no mum.

HTM MWJI i Tau-ma. msnmmox o. r.

UNITED STATES Fatented lTovember 17, 1909;.

PATENT OFFICE.

FLUSHtNG-TANK FofR wATER-oLosETs.

GPECIFIUATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,139, dated November 1'7, 1903.

Application filed November 19. 1901 Sofia-1N0. 82,914. (No model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL G. WArRoos, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofllli-i nois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flushing-Tanks for Water-' Closets, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming partof this specification.

My invention relates more particularly to what are known as low-down flushingtanks, and has for its object the increased simplicity and efficiency of the operating devices in such tanks and the provision of means for insuring the proper refill of the closet-bowl after the flushing operation, all as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an approximately middle verticalsection of a flushing-tank embodying my invention with the discharge and inlet valves both closed; Fig. 2, a similar view with the discharge-valve open; Fig.3, a vertical crosssection upon an irregular line, showing the rincipal parts within the-tank; Fig. 4:, a detail elevation of some of the parts shown in Fig. 3 looking in the opposite direction; Fig. 5, a sectional detail of some of the same parts, and Figs. 6 and 7 details of the inlet or ball-cock valve.

'lhe same letters of reference are used to indicate like or corresponding parts in the several views. 7

A represents the wooden body of the tank of the usual size and shape of low-down tanks of this character and provided with the usual sheet-metal lining B.

O is the discharge-outlet of the tank, consistin g of a cylindrical casting inserted through a suitable opening inthe bottom of the tank and provided with an annular flange restingupon the upper surface of the bottom of the tank around said opening and clamped in position by a nut screwed upon the exteriorly-threaded lower end of the casting beneath the bottom of the tank and bearing againstthe under surface thereof. The upper end of the casting O is suitably turned to form a valve-seat for the main valve D, which consists in the present instance of a metal disk at, provided with a central depending stem 5 and having the lower surface of its periphery beveled off, as shown, and a flexible rubber disk 0 of larger diameter than the metal disk a and clamped against the under side thereofby a flanged nut 61, screwed upon the depending stem I). Said stem is guided in holes formed for it in the inner ends of arms or lugs 6, formed upon the inner surface of the casting C and projecting inwardly to the center thereof, Fig. 3. The casting O has formed upon one side and communicating with its interior an upwardly-projecting connection E for the lower end of the overflow-pipe F, which extends diagonally upward from said connection to the side wall of the tank and is firmly secured to the latter near its upper end at Secured to the under or outer side of the overflow -pipe F, at a proper point in its length, are two ears g, Fig. 4, which form boa-1 ings for a short spindle or rockshaft G, to one of whose ends is secured the lever H, which carries at its opposite end the usual ball or float I. The lever H projects rearwardly slightly beyond its fulcrum and-is provided with an outwardly projecting threaded stud h, Fig. 5, upon which is screwed the inner end of a metal block J provided near its outerend with a vertical hole through which passes a tubular rod K, which has secured to" its lower end the inlet or ballcock valve L. The rod K passes loosely through the hole in the block J; so that the latter may be adjusted vertically of the rod;

but the two are secured together in their adjusted positions by a setscrew M, passing through the outer end of the block J and engaging the rod. Inasmuch as the block J is connected to the lever H in rear of its fulcrum,

it will be understood that when the rear end of the lever H is elevated by the dropping of the hall or float I at the emptying of the tank the block J will be lifted and through the medium of the rod'K will lift the inlet-valve L from its seat and permit water to How into the tank to refill the same and that as the float I is elevated by the rising water and the rear end of the lever Hswung downward the rod K will be forced downward to carry the valve L against its seat and cut off the inlet of the water. The block J is not screwed same.

tightly against the lever H upon the screwstud projecting from the latter; but the stud is free to turn within the threaded bore in the end of the block, so as to permit the latter to be held from turning by the rod K, while the lever rocks upon its fulcrum at the falling and rising of the float I. The adjustable connection between the block J and rod K permits the parts to be set to close the inlet-valve at any desired point in the elevation of the float I, and thus to regulate as desired the quantity of water admitted to the tank without bending the float lever, as is frequently done.

For the purpose of lifting the main valve D from its seat to flush the closet there is provided an operating-rod N, arranged to slide vertically in a groove 71/, formed for it in one of the walls of the tank A (outside of the lining B) and extending at its lower end beneath the tank and provided with a fingerpiece 0 for lifting it. At its upper end, near the top of the tank, the rod N emerges from the groove in the wall of the tank and is bent over and downward across the upper end of the overflow-pipe F, Fig. 3, and has secured to its depending end an arm or casting P, which is provided near its upper end with an eye g, to which is connected the upper end of a link Q, whose lower end is connected to a similar eye h", formed upon the metal disk at of the discharge-valve D, with the result that whenever the rod N is elevated by pressing upward upon the finger-piece 0, carried by its lower end, the valve D will be lifted from its seat and the water in the tank permitted to escape to the closet to flush the Near its lower end the arm or casting P is offset to form a shoulder 1', adapted when the parts are lifted to open the valve D in the manner just described to ride upward over the rear side of the block J and catch over the top of the same, as in Fig. 2, and thereby maintain the arm P and rod N in elevated position and hold the. valve D open while the water escapes from the tank. The

arm P is provided with a lateral projection 9',

Fig. l, extending across the path of a triparm H depending from the under side of the lever H beneath its fulcrum, the lever H. and arm H constituting a bell-crank, and as the level of the water in the tank is lowered and the ball I and outer end of the lever H folthe shoulder e from the block J, thereby re-' lows it downward the lower end of the arm H will be swung rearward and engaging the projection j on the lower end of the arm P will force the latter rearward and disengage The weight of the valve D and the water upon it serves to draw the arm P forward against the rear side of the block J as the rod N is lifted; and thereby insure the engagement of the shoulder 71 of said arm with the upper side of the block J in the manner described. At its upper end, where it emerges from the groove in the wall of the tank, the rod N passes through a metal guide-plate R, se-

cured to the wall of the tank around the opening in the lining B, through which the curved portion of the rodN emerges from the groove. The lower edge of the open upper end of the overflow-pipe F is beneath the level of the lower end of the guide-plateR and the opening in said plate through which the rod N emerges from the groove in the wall of the tank, so that the water in the tank can never rise high enough to enter said groove.

As heretofore stated, the rod K, which carries the inlet-valve L at its lower end, is tubular, and its upper end is curved inwardly and terminates over the upper end of the overflow-pipe F, Fig. 3, and the construction of the inlet -valve is such, as hereinafter explained, that when it is opened by the descent of the float I at the end of the flushing operation a portion of the water rushing into the tank through the valve will pass upward through the tubular rod K and discharge into the overflow pipe F, whence it will pass downward through the casting O beneath the thenclosed discharge valve D to the closet-bowl and serve to refill the same during the time inlet-valve remains open to refill the tank.

The casting S, forming the tubular casin and pipe connection of the inlet-valve L, is secured in the bottom of the tank A, being provided at its upper end with a flange resting upon the upper surface of said bottom and exteriorly threaded beneath the bottom to receive a clamping-nut T, by which it is clamped to said bottom, as usual. The valve-chamber formed in the upper portion of the casing is of plain cylindrical'form entirely open at its upper end and provided around the central opening in its bottom with a raised seat is. The valve U, Figs. 6 and 7, which fits in this chamber, consists of a cylindrical casting, having a reduced lower end, in a recess in the bottom of which is fitted a rubber disk Z, adapted to rest upon the seat 10 in the bottom of the valve-chamber when the valve is closed and effect a tight joint. The valve is hollow or tubular in form and provided with two sets of openings m n, furnishing communication between its interior and exterior, one set, m, of said openings being near the lower endof the valve and the other set, n, its upper end. Immediately above the upper set of said openings the valve is provided with a projecting flange 0, while the extreme upper end of its central bore is internally threaded to receive the threaded lower end of the tubular 1 rod K, which carries the valve, as heretofore described. WVhen the valve is in its lower position, the rubber disk in its lower end rests upon the seat It and the valve is closed; but as soon as it is lifted from said seat the water from the supply-pipe immediately rushes upward around the reduced lower end of the valve and through the lower set of openings m into the overflow-pipe F for the purpose of refilling the closetbowl, as heretofore explained. The flange around the'upper end of the valve serves to deflect the water issuing through the openings a into a horizontal plane and by retarding its free escape in a more vertical direction causes the necessary portion of it to pass on upward through the tubular rod K, as described.

To permit greater freedom of movement of the valve U in its chamber S than if the valve 2 snugly fitted within the chamber for its full length, the valve is in the present instance performs two functions in addition to the ordinary function of an overflow-pipe.

first place, it serves to securely hold the casting 0 in placeand prevent its being turned with the nut upon the lower end of said casting when said nut is screwed up or u nscrewed. In the absence of this'provision for holding the casting from rotatiomas in the case of the ordinary vertical overflow-pipe having a free upper end, the unscrewing or screwing up of the nut upon the lower end of the castin g is apt to rotate the casting and disarrange and damage the parts within the tank and.

also cause it to cut through the'lining of the bottom of the tank and produce leakage. In

the second place, the provision of the inclined overflow-pipe, firmly secured in fixed position at its upper and lower ends, affords a convenient and advantageous fulcrum'support for the float-lever and permits the employment of wide and rigid bearings for the latter and enables them to be located in the upper portion of the tank, near the normal Waterlevel therein, without the employment of an independent support extending vertically up ward from the bottom of the tank or projecting inward from the side wall thereof, as would otherwise be necessary. This location of the fulcrum-support of the float-lever in the upper part of the tank, near the normal waterlevel, permits the float-lever to normally rest in approximately horizontal position, as shown, and to swing downward therefrom as the water is discharged from the tank. Its greatest leverage is thus utilized at the time it is most needed in opening the inlet-valve, whereas when the floatlever is fulcrumed in the lower portion of the tank the float-lever must often occupya'normal position approxi mating an angle of forty-five degrees, with the result that its leverage is the greatest as it approaches the end of its downward movement, where it is least needed, and is smallest at the beginning of its downward movement, whereit is mostneeded.

In the Having thus fully described my invention, I claim--' 1. In a fiushingtank, the combination, with the discharge-valve, the inlet-valve, and the overflow-pipe, of the float-lever mounted in bearings upon the overflow-pipe and connected with the inlet-valve to open the same as the float descends, means for opening the discharge-valve, means for holding it in open position during the discharge of the water from the tank, and means operated by the descent of the float for closing the dischargevalve; substantially as described.

2. In a flushing-tank, the combination,with the discharge-valve, the inlet-valve, and the overflow-pipe, of the float-lever'fulcruined upon said overflow-pipe and connected with the inlet-valve to open the same as the float descends, means for lifting the dischargevalve from its seat, a latch for holding it in elevated position during the discharge'of water from the tank, and a trip carried by the fioatlever for tripping said lach at the descent of the float; substantially as described.

3. In a flushing-tank, the combination,with thedischarge-valve, the inlet-valve and the overflow-pipe, of the float-lever fulcrumed on said overflow-pipe and connected to the inletvalve to open the same at the descent of the float, avertically-movable rod connected to the discharge-valve to lift the same from its seat when the rod is elevated, an after-fill pipe connected with the inlet-valve and emptying into the overflow-pipe,'means for holding said rod and valve in elevated position during the discharge of the water fromthe tank, and means operated by the descent of the fioatto release said rod and valve and permit the latter to reseat itself; substantially as described.

' a. In a flushing-tank, the combination,with the discharge outlet casting (l, the valve D seating upon the upper end thereof, and the in clined overflow-pipe F connected at its lower end to the casting G and secured at its 'upper end to the wall of the tank, of the float-lever H fulcrumed onthe pipe F and carrying the float I, the vertioally-reciprocatin g rod N connected to thevalve D for lifting the same from its seat, a latch for holding said rod and valve I in elevated positionduring the discharge of the water from the tank, and a trip'for said latch operated by the lever H at the descent of the float I; substantially as described.

5. In aflushing-tank, the combination,with the discharge-outlet casting O, the valve D seating upon the upper end thereof, and the inclined overflow-pipe F connected at its lower end to the casting C and secured at its upper end to the wall of the tank, of the float-lever H fulcrumed upon said overflow-pipe and can rying the float I, the inlet-valve L, the rod K connecting said valve with the float-lever H, the vertically-reciprocating rod N connected to the valve D for lifting the same from its seat, means for holding said rod and valve in elevated position during the discharge of thc water from the tank, and means operated by the descent of the float for releasing said rod and valve and permitting the latter to reseat itself; substantially as described.

6. In a flushing-tank, the combination of the discharge-outlet casting O, the valve D seating upon the upper end thereof, the float I and its lever H, the block J carried by said lever, the vertically-reciprocating rod N, the depending arm P carried by the rod M and provided with the shoulder i cooperating with the block J, the link Q connecting the arm P and valve A, and the trip-arm II carried by the lever H and cooperating with the arm 1?; substantially as described.

7 In a flushing-tank, the combination, with the float 1, its lever H, and the block J carried by said lever adjacent its fulcrum, of the inlet-valve, the operating-rod K therefor passing loosely through a hole in the block J, and the set-screw m for securing the block and rod together in different adjusted positions;

' substantially as described.

8. In a flushing tank, the combination of the discharge-outlet casting O, the valve D seating upon the upper end thereof, the float I and its lever II, the block J carried by said lever adjacent its fulcrum, the inlet-valve L, the operating-rod K therefor passing vertically through the hole in the block J, the setscrew m for securing the block and rod together in different adjusted positions, the vertically-reciprocating rod N, the depending arm P carried by said rod and provided with the shoulder 2' cooperating with the block J, the link Q connecting the arm P with the valve D, and the trip-arm H projecting from the lever H and cooperating with the arm P; substantially as described.

9. In aflushing-tank, the combination with the tank A and the discharge -outlet casting O secured in the bottom thereof, an inletvalve of the inclined overflow-pipe F communicating at its lower end with the interior of the casting O and secured at its upper end to the wall of the tank Aand a float-actuated lever fulcrumed upon said pipe and operatively connected with the inlet-valve; substantially as described.

10. In a flushing-tanlgthe combination with the tank A and the discharge-outlet casting O secured in the bottom thereof and provided with the integral pipe connection E communicating with its interior, an inlet-valve of the inclined overflow-pipe F secured at its lower end to the connection E and at its upper end to the wall of the tank A and a float-actuated lever fulcrumed upon said pipe and operatively connected with the inlet-valve; substantially as described.

11. In a flushing-tank, the combination of the tank A, the discharge -outlet casting O secured in the bottom thereof, the inclined overflow-pipe F communicating at its lower end with the interior of the casting O and secured at its upper end to the wall of the tank A, the float-lever H fulcrumed at one end in bearings upon the overflow-pipe F, and the inlet-valve operated by the lever H; substa1i= tially as described.

12. In a flushing-tank, the combination of the tank A, the discharge-outlet casting G secured in the bottom thereof, the inclined overflow-pipe F connected at its lower end with the casting O and secured at its upper end to the wall of the tank A, the float-lever I-I fulcrumed upon the overflow-pipe F at a point near the normal water-level in the tank, so as to permit the float-lever to normally occupy an approximatelyhorizontalposition and swing downwardly therefrom as the water is discharged from the tank, and the inlet-valve operated by the float-lever; substantially as described.

13. In a flushing-tank, the combination of the tank A, the discharge-outlet casting O secured in the bottom thereof, the inclined overflow-pipe F communicating at its lower end with the interior of the casting O and secured at its upper end to the wall of the tank A, the float-lever H fulcrumed upon the overflow-pipe at a point near the normal waterlevel in the tank, so as to permit said lever to normally occupy an approximately horizontal position and swing downwardly therefrom as the water is discharged from the tank, the inlet-valve L, the rod K connecting said valve and the float-lever I-I, means for lifting the discharge-valveD and holdin git open during the discharge of the water from the tank, and means operated by the float-lever for releasing it as the float descends; substantially as described. v

14. In a flushing-tank, the combination, with the overflow-pipe and the float-lever and inlet-valve, of a tubular operating-rod connecting the lever and valve and serving to open the valve when the float is lowered and to deliver to the overflowpipe a portion of the water admitted through said valve after the discharge-valve has been closed; substantially as described.

15. In a flushing-tank, the combination, with the overflow-pipe, the discharge-valve, the inlet-valve and the float and float-lever, of means for opening the discharge-valve, means for holding it in open position during the discharge of the water from the tank, means operated by the descent of the float for closing the discharge-valve, and a tubular operating-rod connecting the float-lever with the inlet-valve and serving to open the latter as the float descends, and to convey to the overflow-pipe a portion of the water admitted through the inlet-valve after the discharge-valve has been closed; substantially as described.

16. In a flushing-tank, the combination, with the discharge-valve, the inlet-valve and the float and float-lever, of means for lifting the discharge-valve from its seat, a latch for holding it in elevated position during the discharge from the tank, a trip for said latch operated by the descent of the float as the water is discharged, and a tubular rod connecting the float-lever and inlet-valve and operating to open said valve as the float descends and to convey to the overflow-pipe a portion of the water admitted through the inlet-valve after the discharge-valve has been closed; substantially as described.

17. In a flushing -tank, the combination with the overflowpipe F, float I, lever H, and inlet-valve L, of the tubular operating-rod K connecting the inlet-valve with the lever H and leading to theupper end of the overflowpipe F; substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 7

18. In a flushing-tank, the combination, with the overflow-pipe F, the float I and its lever H, the block 'J journaled on the lever H, and the inlet-valve L, of the tubular rod K connected at its lower end to the valve L and at its lower end to the valve L and discharging into the overflow-pipe Fat its upper end; substantially as and for the purpose described 20. The combination of the tank having a discharge outlet and a water inlet, a discharge-valve, means for operating such valve, an overflow-pipe in connection with the discharge-outlet,and a float-controlled combined water-inlet and after-fill device comprising an inlet-valve governing the Water-inlet and consisting of a hollow body U having the inletopenings m and outlet-openings n and provided in its upper end with the central threaded hole surrounded by a flange 0, and

an after-fill pipe K screwing into said threaded hole and arranged to empty into the overflowpipe. 7

21; The combination of the tank having a discharge-outlet and a Water-inlet, a dis-.

charge-valve, means for operating such valve, an overflow-pipe in connection with the discharge-outlet, and a float-controlled combined flange 0, and disk Z arranged on the valve to seat upon the seat is, and an after-fill pipe connected to said central opening of the valve and arranged to empty into the overflow-pipe. 22. The casting S containing the plain cylindrical valve-chamber having the raised. seat It at its lower end, in combination with end containing the diski cooperatin g with the seat is and provided With the inlet-openings 'm and outlet-openings n and with the circumferential band 1) seated in a groove between said inlet and outlet openings and a float-actuated after-fill pipe connected with the inletvalve; substantially as described.

' EARL G. WATROUS. Witnesses:

S. E. HIBBEN, EDWARD RISTER. 

